tiktok

Meta and TikTok agree to comply with Australia’s under-16 social media ban

Meta and TikTok have confirmed they will comply with Australia’s new law banning under-16s from using social media platforms, though both warned it will be difficult to enforce. The legislation, taking effect on 10 December, will require major platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under that age.

The law is among the world’s strictest, but regulators and companies are still working out how it will be implemented. Social media firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million if found in breach, yet they are not required to verify every user’s age directly.

TikTok’s Australia policy head, Ella Woods-Joyce, warned the ban could drive children toward unregulated online spaces lacking safety measures. Meta’s director, Mia Garlick, acknowledged the ‘significant engineering and age assurance challenges’ involved in detecting and removing underage users.

Critics including YouTube and digital rights groups have labelled the ban vague and rushed, arguing it may not achieve its aim of protecting children online. The government maintains that platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent young users from accessing their services.

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EU investigates Meta and TikTok for DSA breaches

The European Commission has accused Meta and TikTok of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), highlighting failures in handling illegal content and providing researchers access to public data.

Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were found to make it too difficult for users to report illegal content or receive responses to complaints, the Commission said in its preliminary findings.

Investigations began after complaints to Ireland’s content regulator, where Meta’s EU base is located. The Commission’s inquiry, which has been ongoing since last year, aims to ensure that large platforms protect users and meet EU safety obligations.

Meta and TikTok can submit counterarguments before penalties of up to six percent of global annual turnover are imposed.

Both companies face separate concerns about denying researchers adequate access to platform data and preventing oversight of systemic online risks. TikTok is under further examination for minor protection and advertising transparency issues.

The Commission has launched 14 such DSA-related proceedings, none concluded.

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EU warns Meta and TikTok over transparency failures

The European Commission has found that Meta and TikTok violated key transparency obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). According to preliminary findings, both companies failed to provide adequate data access to researchers studying public content on their platforms.

The Commission said Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok imposed ‘burdensome’ conditions that left researchers with incomplete or unreliable data, hampering efforts to investigate the spread of harmful or illegal content online.

Meta faces additional accusations of breaching the DSA’s rules on user reporting and complaints. The Commission said the ‘Notice and Action’ systems on Facebook and Instagram were not user-friendly and contained ‘dark patterns’, manipulative design choices that discouraged users from reporting problematic content.

Moreover, Meta allegedly failed to give users sufficient explanations when their posts or accounts were removed, undermining transparency and accountability requirements set by the law.

Both companies have the opportunity to respond before the Commission issues final decisions. However, if the findings are confirmed, Meta and TikTok could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

The EU executive also announced new rules, effective next week, that will expand data access for ‘vetted’ researchers, allowing them to study internal platform dynamics and better understand how large social media platforms shape online information flows.

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Trump signs order to advance TikTok spin-off tied to his allies

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that paves the way for TikTok to remain in the US, despite a law requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest the app or face a ban. The order grants negotiators 120 more days to finalise a deal, marking the fifth time Trump has delayed enforcement of the law passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court.

The deal would transfer most of TikTok’s US operations to a new company controlled by American investors. Among them are Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Susquehanna International’s Jeff Yass, a prominent Republican donor. An Emirati consortium known as MGX would also participate, reflecting the Gulf’s growing role in global tech investments. ByteDance would keep a minority stake and retain control of the app’s recommendation algorithm, a sticking point for lawmakers initially pushing for the sale.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump described the incoming management as ‘very smart Americans’ and said Chinese President Xi Jinping had approved the arrangement. Asked whether TikTok would favour pro-Trump content, the president joked that he would prefer a ‘100 percent MAGA’ feed but insisted the app would remain open to all perspectives.

Critics argue the arrangement undermines the very law that forced ByteDance to sell. By preserving a Chinese stake and leaving ByteDance in charge of the algorithm, the deal raises questions about whether the national security concerns that motivated Congress have truly been addressed. Some legal scholars say the White House’s role in handpicking buyers aligned with Trump’s political allies only adds to fears of political influence over a platform used by 170 million Americans.

The negotiations also highlight TikTok’s enormous influence and profit potential. Investors worldwide, including Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp., expressed interest in a slice of the app. TikTok’s algorithm, which will still be trained in China but adapted with US data, will remain central to the platform’s success. Oracle will continue to oversee American user data and review the algorithm for security risks.

The unusual process has fueled debate about political power and digital influence. Critics like California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that placing TikTok in the hands of Trump-friendly investors could create new risks of propaganda. Others note that the deal reflects less of a clear national security strategy and more of a high-stakes convergence of money, politics, and global tech rivalry.

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New Meta feature floods users with AI slop in TikTok-style feed

Meta has launched a new short-form video feed called Vibes inside its Meta AI app and on meta.ai, offering users endless streams of AI-generated content. The format mimics TikTok and Instagram Reels but consists entirely of algorithmically generated clips.

Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the feature in an Instagram post showcasing surreal creations, from fuzzy creatures leaping across cubes to a cat kneading dough and even an AI-generated Egyptian woman taking a selfie in antiquity.

Users can generate videos from scratch or remix existing clips by adding visuals, music, or stylistic effects before posting to Vibes, sharing via direct message, or cross-posting to Instagram and Facebook Stories.

Meta partnered with Midjourney and Black Forest Labs to support the early rollout, though it plans to transition to its AI models.

The announcement, however, was derided by users, who criticised the platform for adding yet more ‘AI slop’ to already saturated feeds. One top comment under Zuckerberg’s post bluntly read: ‘gang nobody wants this’.

A launch that comes as Meta ramps up its AI investment to catch up with rivals OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.

Earlier during the year, the company consolidated its AI teams into Meta Superintelligence Labs and reorganised them into four units focused on foundation models, research, product integration, and infrastructure.

Despite the strategic shift, many question whether Vibes adds value or deepens user fatigue with generative content.

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Canadian probe finds TikTok failing to protect children’s privacy

A Canadian privacy investigation has found that TikTok has not taken sufficient measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing its platform or to protect their personal data.

Despite stating that the app is not intended for young users, the report states that hundreds of thousands of Canadian children use it yearly.

The investigation also found that TikTok collects vast amounts of data from users, including children, and uses it for targeted ads and content, potentially harming youth.

In response, TikTok agreed to strengthen safeguards and clarify data practices but disagreed with some findings.

The probe is part of growing global scrutiny over TikTok’s privacy and security practices, with similar actions taken in the USA and EU amid ongoing concerns about the Chinese-owned app’s data handling and national security implications.

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Oracle to oversee TikTok algorithm in US deal

The White House has confirmed that TikTok’s prized algorithm will be managed in the US under Oracle’s supervision as part of a deal to place the app’s US operations under majority American ownership. The agreement would transfer control of TikTok’s US business, along with a copy of the algorithm, to a new joint venture run by a board dominated by American investors.

The confirmed participants are Oracle and private equity firm Silver Lake, with Fox Corp. also expected to join the group. President Donald Trump has suggested that high-profile figures such as Michael Dell, Rupert, and Lachlan Murdoch could be involved, though CNN sources say that the Murdochs personally will not invest. ByteDance will keep a stake of less than 20% in the new US entity.

The deal follows years of negotiations over concerns that TikTok’s Chinese parent company could be pressured to manipulate the platform for political influence. By law, ByteDance is barred from cooperating on the algorithm with any new American owners. The code will be reviewed, retrained on US user data to address these fears, and monitored by Oracle to ensure its independence.

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order later this week certifying that the deal meets national security requirements under last year’s ‘ban-or-sale’ law. He will also extend the pause on enforcement by 120 days, giving Washington and Beijing time to finalise regulatory approvals. The White House said the deal could be signed within days, with completion likely early next year.

The arrangement deepens Oracle’s role in managing TikTok’s American presence, building on its existing partnership to store US user data. The development coincided with Oracle announcing a leadership shake-up, with CEO Safra Catz stepping down to become vice chair and two co-CEOs taking over. It is unclear if the timing is connected, but Catz, a close Trump ally, could take a role in the TikTok venture.

While financial details remain uncertain, the White House has ruled out taking a direct stake in the company. The deal, valued in the billions, would conclude a years-long effort to bring TikTok under US oversight and resolve national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership.

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TikTok nears US takeover deal as Washington secures control

The White House has revealed that US companies will take control of TikTok’s algorithm, with Americans occupying six of seven board seats overseeing the platform’s operations in the country. A final deal, which would reshape the app’s US presence, is expected soon, though Beijing has yet to respond publicly.

Washington has long pushed to separate TikTok’s American operations from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, citing national security risks. The app faced repeated threats of a ban unless sold to US investors, with deadlines extended several times under President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court also upheld legislation requiring ByteDance to divest, though enforcement was delayed earlier this year.

According to the White House, data protection and privacy for American users will be managed by Oracle, chaired by Larry Ellison, a close Trump ally. Oracle will also oversee control of TikTok’s algorithm, the key technology that drives what users see on the app. Ellison’s influence in tech and media has grown, especially after his son acquired Paramount, which owns CBS News.

Trump claimed he had secured an understanding on the deal in a recent call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing the exchange as ‘productive.’ However, Beijing’s official response has been less explicit. The Commerce Ministry said discussions should proceed according to market rules and Chinese law, while state media suggested China welcomed continued negotiations.

Trump has avoided clarifying whether US investors need to develop a new system or continue using the existing one. His stance on TikTok has shifted since his first term, when he pushed for a ban, to now embracing the platform as a political tool to engage younger voters during his 2024 campaign.

Concerns over TikTok’s handling of user data remain at the heart of US objections. Officials at the Justice Department have warned that the app’s access to US data posed a security threat of ‘immense depth and scale,’ underscoring why Washington is pressing to lock down control of its operations.

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AI will kill middle-ground media, but raw content will thrive

Advertising is heading for a split future. By 2030, brands will run hyper-personalised AI campaigns or embrace raw human storytelling. Everything in between will vanish.

AI-driven advertising will go far beyond text-to-image gimmicks. These adaptive systems will combine social trends, search habits, and first-party data to create millions of real-time ad variations.

The opposite approach will lean into imperfection, featuring unpolished TikToks, founder-shot iPhone videos, and authentic and alive content. Audiences reward authenticity over carefully scripted, generic campaigns.

Mid-tier, polished, forgettable, creative work will be the first to fade away. AI can replicate it instantly, and audiences will scroll past it without noticing.

Marketers must now pick a side: feed AI with data and scale personalisation, or double down on community-driven, imperfect storytelling. The middle won’t survive.

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US and China reach framework deal on TikTok

The United States and China have reached a tentative ‘framework’ deal on the future of TikTok’s American operations, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed during trade talks in Madrid. The agreement, which still requires the approval of Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, is aimed at resolving a looming deadline that could see the video-sharing app banned in the US unless its Chinese owner ByteDance sells its American division.

US officials say the framework addresses national security concerns by paving the way for US ownership of TikTok’s operations, while China insists any final deal must not undermine its companies’ interests. The Biden administration has long argued that the app’s access to US user data poses significant risks, while ByteDance maintains its American arm operates independently and respects user privacy.

The law mandating a sale or ban, upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this year, is due to take effect on 17 September. Although the framework marks progress, key details remain unresolved, particularly over whether TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and user data will be fully transferred, stored, and protected in the US.

Experts warn that unless strict safeguards are included, the deal may solve ownership issues without closing potential ‘backdoors’ for Beijing. Concerns also remain over how much influence China retains, with negotiators linking TikTok’s fate to wider tariff discussions between the two powers.

If fully implemented, the agreement could represent a breakthrough in both trade relations and tech governance. But with ByteDance among China’s most powerful AI firms, the stakes go far beyond social media, touching on questions of global competition, national security, and digital sovereignty.

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